Month: July 2017

I’m so thankful to be back in the DC area! It’s been both humbling and eye-opening journey home and so far I’ve been gifted with some awesome creative avenues such as Dance Workstudy program (study West African Dance, Modern Dance, Hip Hop, Salsa styles), Join a Neo Soul Jazz band as Lead Vocals, perform in a Women’s program featuring international dance, learn acoustic guitar (one was given to me!), and create natural (vegan) food recipes for friends (featured below). Dance has been amazing and challenging because I’m learning to breathe through the movements I intend to perfect (each hand gesture, feet placement, neck roll, hip thrust is deliberate and intentional with focus on the memory of Ancestors and space-time continuum of what is now through the past and even our future)! In one class, we started out with one drummer then ended up with over 7 Drummers and the company director showing up to watch class!!! Everything in my life has become primarily spiritual and humbling!

“To add your light to the sum of light. Do it with patience, and love, and respect for the depth and difficulty of the task” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Returning to school at this time – has been perfect timing. I’ve managed to keep most of my As and stay at a decent GPA while adding Creative Writing and International Business to my minors. And I love starting Poetry Workshop this term, as it allows me to dive deeply into the very intimate aspects of my Self and explore greater depths of creativity and the craft of poetry.

Rainbow Kale Salad with Crazy-Cumin Chickpeas and Creole Sweet Tomato Salad (pictured above) a great organic Summer meal, snack and in my case breakfast! Shout out to MOM’s Organic Market in Waldorf, Maryland (3301 Plaza Way, Waldorf, MD 20603) for their exquisite organic selections and great customer service. Everyone who worked there had that beautiful #MelaninMagick glow! I’m a nut for fresh organic foods and love, love, love diverse recipes I can sample and ‘recreate’ into my own unique creation; to me “EVERYTHING IS ART!” and food is no exception. The more diverse the colors the better, not only does the presentation look amazing, but you’re getting all the nutrients your body is seeking! So what did I make? First-course Vegan Wraps (not pictured). I found the most beautiful selection of Swiss Chard I used along with Collard Green leaves. These were stuffed with mashed avocado and chickpeas, sliced avocados, sliced red and yellow bell peppers (so sweet), spicy arugula mixed sprouts, sliced carrots, organic tomatoes, sweet red onion… The organic cumin was such a treat! I couldn’t get enough of it. That morning, I made a dressing with organic Olive Oil, Braggs Aminos, Cumin powder, squeezed Lime juice, salt, and pepper! Chopped the Dinosaur Kale thinly along with the chopped Swiss Chard leaves, let it soak with the red and yellow peppers, threw in the sliced tomato and red onion and mashed chickpeas and Voila! the yummiest salad breakfast ever! As for my “Crazy Cumin” obsession? Not so crazy after all, cumin is known for its healing properties including its dietary fiber content! It’s a carminative (calms the body), antifungal, antimicrobial, and stimulates digestion. Since my friend had been juicing most of his foods I thought it would help him ease into eating raw foods. I remember the Rasta in Harlem teaching me all about the healing benefits of cumin seeds adding to cooked or oiled foods. And I secretly love the flavor it adds to cilantro, avocado, and lime! ~ Delicious!

Crazy Cumin & ChickPea Kale Salad

Rainbow Kale Salad

Simple Riasweetaw Recipes

The Beauty & Magic of Anthocyanins

I’m obsessed with all things containing Anthocyanins, why? Because they are Nature’s powerfully packed nutrient rich chemicals that help to active, stimulate and empower melanin compounds. They have a higher pH the darker their pigments (although recorded as red-purple at pH 7 while green at pH 8-14). Ever hear the phrase “the darker the berry the sweeter the juice?” well it’s a lot more to that phrase when it comes to our sunkissed magical composition. The Reds, Purples, and Blues of the darker leafy greens, black rice, eggplant, dark red cherries, red apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, red cabbage and black grapes. These nutrient-rich dark pigmented fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids and a variety of healing properties. Preventing cancer, diabetes, neurological, liver, vision, cardiovascular disorders and more. They are anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and pro-oxidants. One of the scientific goodies I found was that these molecular compounds “convert light energy into electrical energy!” Oh yes, anthocyanins! I love you! ❤

Rainbow Swiss Chard

The city has so much to offer, I am being reintroduced to the many gifts it holds and I’m continually awakening to the many beautiful beings, people, energies I meet and allow into my life. Eat Well, Laugh Often, Love Hard, & Empower Your Soul (Mind/Body/Spirit) ~ InLove, Daria (Ria)

A little drumming from this Saturday’s dance class! My YouTube student channel where I post school media projects and videos.